Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital have been recognized with the Emergency Nurses Association’s (ENA) 2024 Lantern Award for demonstrating exceptional and innovative performance in leadership, practice, education, advocacy and research.
The award – named in honor of Florence Nightingale – recognizes emergency departments that demonstrate excellent practice and innovative performance through leadership, education, advocacy and research. The Lantern Award designation is for a three-year period.
“We are truly honored to be recognized by the ENA for our commitment to improving outcomes for our patients and advancing emergency care through innovation,” said Leah Blackwell, chief nursing officer at Memorial Hermann-TMC. “Patient safety is our top priority, and being recognized for our dedication to safety and quality is a great acknowledgement of the relentless pursuit of excellence demonstrated every day by our ED and nursing staff.”
At Memorial Hermann-TMC, the emergency department successfully implemented intra-hospital collaboration, a strategy aimed at improving ED throughput metrics, including a decrease in divert status. The hospital has also placed an emphasis on employee retention and satisfaction; initiatives were developed to take an intentional approach to ensure employee education and training. To optimize resources, the hospital designated Admission Hold Registered Nurses (RNs) to allow ED nurses to concentrate their skills on ED patients.
At Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital, the emergency department developed initiatives for improved community collaboration, improved ED throughput metrics and improved crucial door-to-EKG times. The hospital’s initiatives include staff-led improvements in pre-hospital communications with EMS partners; partnership with ED physicians/providers to improve the time between a patient’s arrival to triage and medical screening exam; and improvements to medication safety, trauma care and staff development and advancement.
“This is the second time Memorial Hermann Cypress was chosen for this award, and we are very proud of the hard work and dedication of our ED and nursing staff, who are continually looking for new and innovative ways of improving care delivery and patient outcomes,” said Christie Dawson, chief nursing officer at Memorial Hermann Cypress.
Both hospitals will be recognized in upcoming ENA publications, on the ENA website and at Emergency Nursing 2024, the association’s annual conference, in Las Vegas.